January is my birthday month, so I wanted to celebrate by posting birthday related crochet. Last year I created a super cute birthday badge for my daughter to wear at her 7th birthday party. I knew my daughter would be jumping around in a bouncy house and running around with her friends, so crocheting it seemed like the perfect fit!
This little cutie is so easy to customize for any theme, the ideas are endless! Change the colors, use different appliques on the front, and use them over and over again every year!
I looked at Pinterest for inspiration and found these super cute paper badges from
Paige and Chris. The bright colors are perfectly eye catching, and the layers make it dynamic. I knew I could recreate something similar in my own way!
I set out to make all sorts of layers to sew (and glue) together into a cute badge.
This post contains affiliate links so you can buy them all easily without having to leave the house, LOL.
Here is what you will need:
• worsted weight yarn in varying colors of your choice
• crochet hook of choice, I used a
size G
• strips of
tulle
(details below)
• needle and thread (or embroidery floss) (color doesn't matter)
Let's get Started!
Birthday Badge Tutorial
Cupcake Applique
With your cake color, ch 6.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 4 sts, Turn
Row 2-4: ch 1, sc in back loops only, Turn
Fasten off
With your frosting color,
Row 1: create a magic loop and hdc 4 in the loop.
Row 2: ch 1, 2 hdc in each st, Turn
Row 3: ch 1, 1 hdc in first st, 2 hdc in next, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in next st, 1 hdc in next 2 sts.
Row 4 (worked along the straight edge below the at the bottom of the circle): (ch2, 2 dc) in the side of row 3, slst in the next row, (ch2, 2 dc) in the same space as the previous slst, slst in the side of row 1, (ch2, 2 dc) in the other side of row 1, slst in the side of row 2, (ch2, 2 dc) in the side of row 2, slst to the end of the circle.
FO, leaving a long tail to sew the frosting to the cucpake.
Sew the cupcake to the back of the frosting right where the scallops and the circle meet. when you are sewing, pull tightly on the edges to make the pinch in a little so you get a cute pudgy frosting look.
Cherry On Top
With a red color, make a magic loop and sc 6 times into the loop. slst to the first sc and FO.
You can sew or hot glue the cherry to the top of your cupcake.
Layers
You can make any layers you like. Have fun with it!
Scalloped Flower Under the Cupcake
Rnd 1: make a magic loop, ch 1 and hdc 8 into the loop, slst to the first hdc (8 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 hdc in each st around, slst to the first hdc (16 sts)
Rnd 3: (ch 3, skip 1 st, slst into next st) 8 times around (the last st will go into the first st you slst into) (8 loops)
Rnd 4: (sl into the next loop, ch 2, 3 dc into the loop, ch 2, slst into the same loop) in each loop around (8 scallops)
FO and weave in end.
Back Circle
Rnd 1: make a magic loop, ch 1 and dc 12 into the loop, slst to the first dc (12 sts)
Rnd 2: ch 2, 2 dc in each st around, slst to the first dc (24 sts)
Rnd 3: ch 2, (dc, dc inc) around (36 sts)
Making a Tulle Ruffle Medallion
You will need a strip (or two) of tulle that's roughly 3 inches wide and about 20 inches long. I used a layer of glittery purple and a layer of pink for my badge. If you are using more than one layer, make sure the back layer is a little wider than the top layer. You can always trim it if it's too wide, but you can never add more if it's not right. (You can find spools of tulle around the sewing section at Hobby Lobby.)
With your sewing needle and thread you will knot it to one end of your tulle strip. I recommend doing each strip separately for a nice uneven layered look. Sew a running stitch along one long edge of your tulle (a running stitch is just weaving it in and out, or up and down, along the edge you are sewing).
Once you get all the way to the end of your tulle then pull it tightly so the strip curls up into a circle. I like to pull it as tight as I can. Weave your thread through the edge a few times, sewing the edge shut and together, then finish it off with a knot.
"Ribbon" Strips
For your ribbon strings, crochet strips in different stitch heights. Length isn't as important because you can stagger them around when you sew/glue them together.
Tip: If you make your chains a little tight and your sts a little loose it will force the strips to curl up.
I made 6 single crochet strips in all different colors.
ch 21, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each st across, FO
I made 1 half double crochet strip.
ch 21, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each st across, FO
I made 2 double crochet strips.
ch 28, dc in 4th ch from hook and each st across, FO
Specialty Strips
I made one of each of these.
Picot Strip
ch 21, sk first ch, (sc, ch 3, slst in first ch, sc in st) across (makes 20 sc and 10 picots)
Super Curly Cue
ch 51, sk first ch, 3 sc in each st across (150 sc)
Put It All Together!
Once all of your layers and strips you want are done, you can sew them together or hot glue them. I chose to hot glue everything together. It helps to make the tulle lay nicely.
• Glue your cupcake to the flower, and then glue that to the circle.
• Arrange the strips to the back of the circle the way you like before glueing them down.
• Glue your tulle medallions behind your strips.
All done! Enjoy your new birthday badge!
Happy crocheting,
Chassity O.
What is your favorite birthday theme for you or your kids?
for sewing pieces together
(optional)
